The UK Independence Party (UKIP) has suspended one of its highest profile female representatives over allegations of a “serious financial nature,” it has been revealed.

The party did not
disclose the exact reason for Janice Atkinson’s suspension, but
it’s believed to relate to a video obtained by the Sun, which
showed a member of Atkinson’s staff “plotting to make a
substantial bogus expenses claim.”

The UK parliamentary candidate for Folkestone and Hythe’s
suspension comes only months after the party suspended Amjad
Bashir over financial irregularity allegations.

Atkinson’s claim was reportedly in relation to a lunch costing
£950, which was attended by senior party figures during their
spring conference in Margate.

The Sun claimed to have filmed one of Atkinson’s staff taking an
invoice for the lunch for £3,150 at the restaurant, which would
have allowed Atkinson’s office to claim back a higher amount from
a group funded by the European Parliament and pocket the excess
for the party.

A UKIP spokesman said: “The party is incredibly disappointed
with Ms Atkinson, who appears to have exercised extremely poor
judgment in acting in a way that the party has never, and would
never condone.

“The party has acted swiftly and immediately, and just as we
showed when we suspended another MEP for financial
irregularities, we always maintain a zero tolerance attitude
towards acts of this nature.”

Party leader Nigel Farage also said he found the allegations
“astounding.” Speaking on LBC radio, Farage said: “I
was deeply shocked when I saw it. One of the most incredibly
stupid and dishonest things I have ever seen in my life.

“It was a member of staff as you rightly say. What exactly is
the relationship between that member of staff asking for a false
bill and Janice Atkinson is I don’t know,” he said.

Atkinson has been suspended and will face a disciplinary hearing
on Monday.

Another senior UKIP source said the party was “absolutely
aghast” at the allegations, especially as the incident
happened so close to the general election.

This isn’t the first time Atkinson has caused UKIP negative
publicity. She was accused of making a racist slur when she
referred to a Thai constituent as “ting-tong.” She was
later forced to apologize.

The MEP was given a prominent platform at UKIP’s spring
conference, where she gave a speech against “Guardianista
feministas” – in reference to leftwing feminists. She also
told the audience she believed she could beat her Conservative
rival, Damian Collins MP.

Political blogger Guido Fawkes reported Atkinson was told by the
party’s legal team there was nothing they could do for her, and
said she should seek criminal representation.